Endemic Scorpion Species and Subspecies in Morocco: A Comprehensive Overview.

IF 2.6 4区医学 Q2 PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACY Toxicon Pub Date : 2025-01-21 DOI:10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108253

Meriem Es-Saadi, Salsabil Hamdi, Soukaina Khourcha, Khalid Sadki, Khaoula Errafii, Naoual Oukkache

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Abstract

Scorpion fauna is abundant in regions with arid and semi-arid climates, exposing these areas to a risk of envenomation, especially for children. Scorpion envenomations cause thousands of deaths each year, with notable incidences in the MENA region, South America, Latin and Central America, and India. Morocco is one of the countries most affected by this phenomenon; according to statistics from the Moroccan Poison Control and Pharmacovigilance Center (CAPM), approximately 8,565 scorpion stings and envenomations were recorded annually between 2016 and 2022, mainly among children. A literature review was conducted to identify and catalog the endemic scorpion species in Morocco and explore the impact of climate change on their distribution. Sources included scientific journal articles, university theses, and field reports. The collected data were compiled and analyzed to create a distribution map of the endemic species. Our results identified fifty-five endemic species and subspecies in Morocco. The family Buthidae is the most widespread, with seventeen endemic species of the genus Buthus, nine of the genus Androctonus, five of the genus Butheoloides, four of the genus Buthacus, two each of the genera Orthochirus, Compsobuthus, and Hottentota, and one species each of the genera Microbuthus, Cicileiurus, and Saharobuthus. The family Scorpionidae includes nine endemic species, and two subspecies belonging to the genus Scorpio. A high level of endemism is observed in southern Morocco, highlighting a significant concentration of these species in this region. Ongoing climate change is likely to expand the population and distribution of scorpions, as well as the number of envenomations. The results underscore the importance of implementing control and prevention strategies to reduce the risks of envenomation, particularly in the context of climate change. Therefore, to develop management and prevention strategies is based on a thorough understanding of species distribution and their habitats to improve the safety of vulnerable populations.

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来源期刊

Toxicon 医学-毒理学

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

10.70%

发文量

358

审稿时长

68 days

期刊介绍： Toxicon has an open access mirror Toxicon: X, sharing the same aims and scope, editorial team, submission system and rigorous peer review. An introductory offer Toxicon: X - full waiver of the Open Access fee. Toxicon''s "aims and scope" are to publish: -articles containing the results of original research on problems related to toxins derived from animals, plants and microorganisms -papers on novel findings related to the chemical, pharmacological, toxicological, and immunological properties of natural toxins -molecular biological studies of toxins and other genes from poisonous and venomous organisms that advance understanding of the role or function of toxins -clinical observations on poisoning and envenoming where a new therapeutic principle has been proposed or a decidedly superior clinical result has been obtained. -material on the use of toxins as tools in studying biological processes and material on subjects related to venom and antivenom problems. -articles on the translational application of toxins, for example as drugs and insecticides -epidemiological studies on envenoming or poisoning, so long as they highlight a previously unrecognised medical problem or provide insight into the prevention or medical treatment of envenoming or poisoning. Retrospective surveys of hospital records, especially those lacking species identification, will not be considered for publication. Properly designed prospective community-based surveys are strongly encouraged. -articles describing well-known activities of venoms, such as antibacterial, anticancer, and analgesic activities of arachnid venoms, without any attempt to define the mechanism of action or purify the active component, will not be considered for publication in Toxicon. -review articles on problems related to toxinology. To encourage the exchange of ideas, sections of the journal may be devoted to Short Communications, Letters to the Editor and activities of the affiliated societies.